Ford UK sales surge ahead in 2012

March 08, 2012

Ford UK sales surge ahead in 2012

8.3.12

Wheelsology

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UK market leader Ford has increased its car sales and share in both January and February this year.

Ford's top-selling car range secured 14.5 per cent of the February market, up 2.6 percentage points compared with February 2011, while Ford commercial vehicles
(CVs) maintained overall leadership of the CV market, according to the official sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT):
> Ford total car sales and share increased in January and February, compared with 2011
> Ford retail car sales and share also increased in January and February
> Ford Focus is the UK February best seller and Ford Fiesta is No 1 for the year to date
> Ford commercial vehicles lead both the LCV and MCV segments

"Ford’s car range has started 2012 with a terrific performance that extends our UK lead in total car sales, and provides a good indicator for March, when sales are boosted significantly by the registration plate change," said Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain Managing Director.

“Our best-ever range of vehicles will grow even further thanks to a series of new launches this year, flagged up by a glittering display on the Ford stand at this week's Geneva Motor Show. The list of upcoming models includes the new Ford B-Max, the new Ford Kuga, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost Ford Focus, and the new Fiesta and Focus ST models."

The official figures released by the SMMT show that total car sales last month were down 2.5 per cent to 61,868 units, compared with February 2011. Ford car sales of 8,957 were up 18.8 per cent, from 7,542 in February 2011.

Ford's retail car market share for the year to date (end February) is 13.1 per cent, 1.9 percentage points up from the same period in 2011. For this same period, Ford increased its retail car sales lead over its nearest rival by 120 per cent, from 1,986 to 4,363, and it increased its total car sales lead more than three-fold, from 2,076 to 9,806.

Ford Focus was the UK best seller in February, taking 6.0 per cent of the total car market, up from 3.9 per cent in February 2011. Ford Fiesta is the UK best seller for the year to date; its sales have increased from 8,248 to 10,723, compared with the same period in 2011.

UK commercial vehicle sales were down 16.6 per cent, compared with February 2011. The LCV and MCV segments in which Ford competes were down 63.6 and 18.5 per cent, respectively. Sales of Ford commercials in February were down from 3,371 to 2,333, compared with the same month last year.

Ford medium commercials, headed by the industry-leading Ford Transit, accounted for one-in-four sales in that segment for the year to date. Ford’s share of MCV sales was 25.0 per cent, down from 29.1 per cent for the same period in 2011. Ford’s share of light commercial sales for the year to date was 40.6 per cent, up from 19.2 per cent in 2011.